Rock picker



April 28, 1953 A. M. JocHlM 2,636,328

Rocx PICKER Filed April 18, 1949 2 SHEETS-SHEET l Ant'cm M :ln Chim,

April 28, 1953 A. M. Joel-"M 2,636,328

Rocx PICKER Filed April 18, 1945 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2 Antan M. .lmthm,

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Patented Apr. 28, 1953 ROCK PICKER Anton M. Jochim, Inverness, Mont., assignor to Minn-Kota Manufacturing Company, Moorhead, Minn.

Application April 18, 1949, Serial No. 88,077

2 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in rock pickers, and particularly to improvements in rock pickers of the type disclosed in my prior application, Serial No. 749,578, led May 21, 1947, now Patent No. 2,519,136, for gathering loose rocks from a ground surface or field, transporting the gathered rocks to a point of deposit in the field or elsewhere, and dumping the gathered rocks at the deposit point.

One object of the present invention is to provide a novel construction and arrangement of gathering means and supporting wheels in a wheeled picker whereby the wheels will travel in contact with the ground in a path cleared or substantially cleared by the gathering means to insure smooth travel of the machine with the gathering means moving always in close proximity to the ground surface.

Another object of the invention is to provide readily controlled hydraulic means for operating a gathering rake to deposit the gathered rocks in a hopper or receptacle.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a novel mode of mounting the rake for swinging movements 'to and from its gathering position and stably supporting the rake in gathering position.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a novel construction of hopper or receptacle and means for controlling its movements between receiving and dumping positions.

Still another object of the invention is to generally simplify and improve the construction and increase the efficiency of devices of this character.

With these and other objects in view, the invention consists of the novel construction, combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter fully described and claimed, and as shown in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a top plan View of a rock picker embodying my invention, showing the rake in gathering position and the hopper in receiving position.

Figure 2 is a view in side elevation of the same.

an enlarged scale through the device taken substantially on line 3--3 of Fig. 1.

Figure 4 is a vertical transverse section taken substantially on line 4-4 of Figure 1.

Figure 5 is a similar view taken substantially on line 5-5 of Figure 3.

Figure 6 is a vertical longitudinal section on an Ienlarged scale, taken substantially on line 6-6 of Fig. l, through the front wheel and its mountwhich are suitably joined together.

. 2 ing and showing the draft tongue connection therewith. v

Figure 7 is a transverse section on line 'I-T of Figure 6. l

Figure 8 is an enlarged detail section taken substantially on line .8 8 of Fig. 4, through a part of the rakeandits stop-brace on the frame.

Figure 9 is a sectional view on an enlarged scale through the latchcasing and latch keeper, showing the latch bar in engagement with the keeper.

In carrying my invention into practice, I provide a travelling vehicle embodying a wheeled frame I formed of angle metal or other suitable material and comprising a front cross bar 2, a rear cross bar 3 and longitudinal side bars 4, At its rear the frame is supported 'by wheels 5 mounted on a shaft 6 carried by brackets I secured to and depending from the side bars 4. At its front the frame is reinforced byl corner brackets 8, secured to and extending upward from the bars 2 and 4, and extending forwardly from the front corners of the frame are reaches 9 which converge in a forward direction and are joined together at their forward ends at a point 9 coincident Vwith the longitudinal center` line of the frame. These reaches are connected with and ref4.5 Figure 3 is a vertical longitudinal section on inforced from `the brackets 8 by stays Ill and have their forward ends connected with the center of the bar 2 by a bridge piece II arranged above and braced from the reaches by stays I2. The bridge piece II serves not only as a center line brace between the bar 2 and reaches 9 but also as a support for a front supporting and steering wheel I3. As shown, the wheel I3 is journaled in the arms of an inverted U-shaft bracket I4, the upper cross bar of which carries a stubshaftv E5 which extends upward through and is journaled in a bearing sleeve I6 carried by the bridge piece II, 'whereby the wheel is journaled to rotate in the bracket and swiveled to the bridge piece for steering movements. At its upper end the shaft I5 projects above the sleeve and is tted with a collar I'I secured thereto by a setscrew I8 whereby it is held from downward displacement in the bearing sleeve. Pivoted at their rear ends to the arms. of the vbracket I4 are the spaced arms of a draft tongue I9, the forward portion of which is suitably constructed in practice for attachment to a tractor whereby the picker may be drawn over a ground surface from which rocks are to be picked and automaticalh7 steered in its travel. Secured to the draft tongue and projecting downwardly therefrom in front of the wheel I3 is a delector plate or blade 20 which protects the wheel from injury by rocks and serves to deflect loose rocks out of the path of the wheel to keep the wheel traveling in contact with the ground.

Disposed at the rear of the frame between the transverse center of the frame and the Wheels 5 is a gather-ingrbox-or.fhopper' 2lgfwhichr of oblong rectangular .forme and of a length somewhat less than the distance between the bars 4. The box is normally open at top and rear and is hinged or pivoted at its ends, as shown at 22, to bracket arms 23 depending from the bars 4. These hinges are arranged in adyancelvofthe centenof the box to adapt the box, when freed fonfgrnoyement, to swing downwardly and rearwardly, under weight of a load of rocks therein, to discharge the rocks through its open rearportiononto the ground at a site of deposit. A gate 24 isrhllged at the ends of its uppereedge. as shown at 25, to

when Vthe bo'x is tilted' vfor a "'du'inping 'an Qrlid to swing toa positionl tn closethe normallyiopen rear portion of 'the box when thebox vis lebilrned to its receiving position. V Slidably, mountedon the gatepreferably at a,`p'oint intermediate; v,its -f ends is a spring, Projected .latch 'bari bolt oigrod 25 mounted withitsprojecting Aspringngin a guide casing, 2S' .and Whose lower endisf adapted to engage-an. wenigen* keep-er Platen; Se-

cured toithe bottomofgthef box; to holdn the gate closedl `Attaplied";t the" lower-j edge' of the gate are Spring metal retainer plateszfadapted when the gate is c :losedjto` extend'J beneatlfrthe bottom of the box. ",Thesegplates-iare-preferably located adjacent to thefendsfoff theY gate ,andoperatejo hOldfthbOX-bttom trom .Segerlg underv weight of aV load-"infthebox,and td'keepjthejlatch, en-

gaged with:thakeeperuntuftnelatch is ppsriveiy `released ,by the operator, 'and-.said plates" also Serve t0 brpperreude imacat@ Qnts. closing 'movement' to enS-ure'the'briegieg for the. latch into alinement lwith 'the keeper." Vfor positivey engagement therewith* tof holdthe jgate securely closed. Attached no the. upper and of .the latch isa cord-.or cablage whignxrends wela a guide puller @iB-Summerbsf'theffem" to a; peSitO-n in proximity'u tof"theldriv-rs4 seat-onf the tractor,

`where `it mayj :be securedfjtd .suitable retaining 'means Normally 4the 'e stance of this cord and projected beneath the" box bottom Vandlhold `'the gaie: closed @that by, slightly. relaxinethecprd the ,lately-winne proiectedta engaeethe keeper.

The eet@ .Controlling means 4.will thenhoid the; box in refeivne' nns'iten, t inten ,sqaean released' 1 ...f .l g. .,i.

'.Mounted onthegfrarne l betmeen'thebar 2 and box 2 l 'isa gathering rake 31 comprising a' frame bars' Mand 'rods' '35; secured towheicross balsltlle forward endg 'or the rods'fextendingin,adyancegb the bartli andv being. bentto form '.eatheringtnes 36. 'Normal-lv'the fake"'frame' and rods incline .ibey'ond the bars 4 and serves as a delivery plate or. aprongoverwhichthe rocks may slide as they @ll S'Chalglclirito' the box. Carried by the fra'rnei islayfUrsliaped member 39, the side arms of which are fixed to the bars 4 and the cross :farmfo -whic'hffisfiarranged to extend across the tramer l `Vbeneath the forward portion of the rake when the latter is in gathering position. This Inernbervserves as astop to limit the downward sitiflgofA 'the r'akea'ndas a-stay to brace the rake against-injuryfby roeksinfa-gathering action. It will* beiseenf froifnithej foregoing thai-,ftheV #main portionslof"therodsforming with; the cross bars32; and 31%' andendbarsfll .therbody or -frame ofithe rake-:provide an inclinedsuraee extending fromtheitinesGeupwardlyto the upper 'end or hea-dor theer'ake extending `.between the side-bars and terminating adjacent to thetop-on-the receptacle 2 |l,'-o"ver whichdnc'lin'e'd surface the rocks *gathered'bythe tines Gfniayslide by gravity directly'tothe reeeptale instead-ofbeing thrown er -`crcibl'y -irnpell'ecl'f -thereintdwhen the rake `is swung upwardly re'arn'fardlyS 4toi delivery po- `vsit-ion. l'Hence-anfeasw'delivery action is secured witli'less liabilityof--lstallngfof the vrake and less shocksfandijars Gn-tthe rake-and recep-tacleviespecially when large rocks oraweightyy mass of .rocks 4isfdelivered.' l

' flnithe' operationofflthe :deviceas-thus far. described, pieken-is? drawn over .the groundgby the tractor and the loose reeksen Athegreund are Agathered ibythedralreAthies. lfWhen sufficient rocks?"have-beenfgathered: therake is operated ltofdeposit? Ithei- Yreck's :in irthe.- gathering box and when! 1the-inox -isilledxthe controlling-COMES is actuated to release the latch andpermitthe box tdibe ti'l-tedJ-toidunipfzthe rocks: at'. a f desired deposit-point inf'the-ffelder elsewhere. After `the loadi-isdu-rnped the cord29fris-manipulated toreturn therboxmto receiving position'and' relatch the gate-in thema-nner prevouslyfdescribed.

".ftewillffloe-notedthatthe-rearwheels 5 are so mountedethatlthey-lie'--between the frame bars 4 and travel in a path Icleared by the rake. "As a r'esulti these' wheelsareprot'ectedto alarge-extent 'frenrfdamagesbyreel/sfvv alldlfroml 'traveling over rocks and#cai'ising-y fthefreariend o'f the frame `to jum'p'eupand down,f- -which--weuld Vcause undue wear and tear on fthe-picker. 'l' The deector plate -Ql-siinilarlyacts -tqlguardl the-firent wheel from damage bylro'cls'and teprevent the-'frontportion othepickerffroni jumping up'and down as it normal position, 'jf desired j" Mounted onp the Vfranje barst" aie-cylinders"40 5- in which operate double-acting pistons having rods 4| connected to crank arms 42 yon the ends of the rake frame. Connected to the opposite ends of each cylinder are supply and return pipes 43, 44 which extend forwardly along the sides of the frame to a point in advance of the front wheel and have their forward end portions 43', i4 suitably formed or constructed for connection with a source of supply of a hydraulic fluid under pressure on the tractor, whereby flow of uid to and from the cylinders may be effected and controlled. I have not deemed it necessary to show any particular type of hydraulic fluid supply and control means for the purpose, as such means, per se, forms no part of my invention, and as any suitable hydraulic means with control valves such as are in common use may be employed. An advantage in the use of such means is that shocks or jars falling on the rake will be cushioned in an obvious manner, thus reducing liability of damage to this part of the machine.

It will be observed that in my construction the wheels are mounted so as to support the frame for travel at a fairly high level above the surface of the ground which is being Worked for the removal of rocks. This permits of the described construction and arrangement of the rock receptacle and rake in the vertical space between the side bars and ground and the mounting of these elements on the side bars so that they are supported in a pendent position directly, or substantially so, from the side bars, whereby a simple and compact arrangement of the working parts is secured, and one in which the receptacle and rake are sustained against the weight of the gathered rocks, thus reducing the working strains on all parts of the machine. Furthermore, this construction and arrangement adapts the hydraulic cylinders to be mounted on the side bars so that their piston rods may be coupled directly to the rake without the use of connections having complex movements and liable to be damaged in use and which add to the cost of construction and maintenance of the machine. In addition, the specied construction and arrangement of parts permits of the building of a machine which is light in weight and of comparatively small size, but which is strong and durable and capable of withstanding the rough usage to which machines of this character are subjected in use. As the i rear wheels and rake of this machine are arranged within the vertical planes of the sides of the frame, the weight of the gathered rocks is coni-ined to the areas in which the rake is firmly supported whichrenders the working action of the rake easier and does away with any tendency of the rake to bind or the machine to tilt under the weight of rocks gathered at the sides of the rake, as would be the case if the rake were extended beyond the sides of the frame. Hence the rake may travel with its tines 36 always in a horizontal position and close to or in direct contact with the ground surface. By the use of two hydraulic cylinders, one at each side of the frame and coupled to the rake at or adjacent to each side of the frame, proper space is provided for the mounting of the receptacle and rake in close relation and without interference from or with the cylinders, and with the advantage of more uniformly and eiciently applying the power of the pistons to operate the rake and to cushion its movements on its return each time from delivery to gathering position.

From the foregoing description, taken in connection with the drawings, the construction and 6 mode of operation of my improved picker will be readily understood without la further and extended description. lIts advantages are that it is simple, reliable and efficient in construction, not easily subject to breakage, and it is to a large extent automatic in operation. While the construction shown is preferred, it will, of course,

` be understood that changes in the form, construction and arrangement of parts may be made, within the scope of the appended claims, without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

l. A rock picker comprising a wheeled supporting frame including rigidly connected longitudinal side bars, an open-topped receptacle arranged at the rear of the frame between the side bars and pivotally connected to the side bars to swing to a downwardly and rearwardly inclined dumping position from a receiving position in which its open top is disposed substantially in the horizontal plane of the side bars, means for holding the receptacle in its receiving position and controlling its dumping movement, a rake arranged between the side bars in front of the receptacle and extending upwardly beyond the side bars and comprising a rake body formed of rigidly connected side and intermediate members, said rake body being directly pivoted adjacent its upper end to the side bars with its upper end disposed adjacent to the open top of the receptacle and normally extending at a downward and forward angle of inclination therefrom below the side bars and provided at its lower end with forwardly projecting gathering tines, the construction of the rake and arrangement of its pivotal connections with the side bars being such that the rake may be swung upward on said connections to directly support the rake and its load from the side bars and dispose the rake body at a downward and rearward angle of inclination relative to the receptacle with its upper end overlapping the top of the receptacle to form an inclined chute for the sliding delivery of gathered rock along its surface into the receptacle, crank arms directly xed to the rake body adjacent to and extending above its pivotal connections, hydraulic cylinders mounted on the side bars, and positions in the cylinders having rods connected to said crank arms.

2, A rock: pickel' comprising a wheeled supporting frame having longitudinal side bars and front and rear cross bars connecting the same, an open-topped receptacle arranged at the rear of the frame between the side bars, bracket members fixed to the side bars and pivotally suspending the receptacle therefrom so as to lie in receiving position with its open top disposed substantially in the horizontal plane of the side bars and mounting the receptacle for tilting motion to a downwardly and rearwardly inclined dumping position, means for holding the receptacle in its receiving position and controlling its dumping movement, a rake arranged between the side bars in front of the receptacle and extending upwardly beyond the side bars and comprising a rake body formed of rigidly connected side and intermediate members, said rake body being directly pivoted at its sides adjacent its upper end to the side bars with its upper end disposed adjacent to the open top of the receptacle and normally extending at a downward and forward angle of inclination therefrom below the side bars and provided at its lower end with forwardly projecting gathering tines, the constructhe rake -fmay'i be' :swung upward'. on'. seid.'-y com nectons 'to' 'directly suplzvorizthe Xreeraod Yits load from the' side bars; 'andfrisposezzthe'fmke :body 'at a downward 'and rearward angle 'Dfxinclnatolx relative tothe receptaeleiwtn'its :upper end overappirxgthe'top of theareceptaele to'ormen nclined -chute for. the .sliding .delivery ".of gathered rock along' .its .suracegnto J:he yJueoepisacle,r .cra-.nk arms directly xed 1:0 'the make body. adant-,to and extending abovefsits.pivotalzconnections, hydraulic :cylinders f mounted: zon ythe .side bars.; .and pisons in'thezcylnders having lrods''connected to said crank arms.

s ANTON 'JOCI-IIM.

mieielzemes .-si-sinlheilleiof falsisfymnent f' UNITED -sTATEs:BATENTs Number 'N me 1.221118 ABrewster etval. J an. 2, 1865 ...Davis .'Feb. 27,' '1872 Hawkins 'Feb.'27,;1'894 .Oi'zerstenY Dec.' 1,'1895 ...Howardet a1. June 9', 1925 Christensen Dec. 1;.1925 Jones. et a1. 'Oct. 22.1940 i,..Bo15t. 1Sept. 1.5..' 1942 @Hicks Nov;;6,' 1945 QBrien "Aprf 15', ,1947 1 es1;] nd v Dec: 13,' '1949 ,'Joohjm 'Aug'. 15'1950 

